Are bats blind?
No, bats are not blind. All bat species can see, and some see very well. Many bats also use echolocation, which helps them hunt and navigate in complete darkness.
The saying blind as a bat is a myth. Small insect-eating bats have small eyes, but they can see shapes, light and movement, and some can even see ultraviolet light. They use their vision for long-distance navigation, for example to find their roosts using landmarks or the setting sun.
Large fruit bats, often called flying foxes, have big eyes and excellent night vision. They rely mainly on sight and smell to find fruit and flowers, and most of them do not echolocate at all. Some species can see in color.
Echolocation
Most small bats send out high-pitched calls and listen to the echoes to detect insects and obstacles in the dark. Combining echolocation with vision gives them a detailed picture of their surroundings. This combination makes bats some of the most skilled night flyers in the animal world.
Did You Know?
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Their wings are made of skin stretched over long finger bones.